Report: Burglary suspect hit by car while fleeing scene

December 12, 2011|Barbara Hijek, FloriDUH

Sometimes the victims get lucky when suspected bandits trip up.

Literally trip up.

When the Crestview homeowner and a friend returned home they noticed a strange car backed up in the carport. Several males then reportedly were seen fleeing his home, according to an Okaloosa County Sheriff's Office news release.

The homeowner and his friend decided to chase the men. As they did, one of the suspected burglars, later identified as John Donald Bell, 32, was hit by a car as he tried to cross a highway.

Responding deputies found Bell in the median with severe trauma to his right leg — along with property believed stolen from the homeowner on the ground nearby.

The investigation is continuing and charges are pending.

Bell's name should ring a bell with Okaloosa County jail officials — according to the jail website, bell has been an inmate there 15 times since October 2001.

Get the DUHtails from the Oklaloosa County Sheriff's Office news release.

Photo: John Donald Bell from a June 2011 violation of probation arrest / Okaloosa County Sheriff's Office